GOVT 2301 - INA Introduction: Why is This Course Offered?
We live in a democratic republic. In such a system the people are sovereign, meaning that ultimate political authority rests with the people. This isn't necessarily good news. Overall levels of knowledge about governmental are quite low. The founding generation recognized this and created a governing system that placed a significant number of barriers between the people and the law. This was to ensure that the "instability, injustice, and confusion" common in democracies would not lead the new country to an early demise. Nevertheless it was understood that participation would expand and an educated population would be required to ensure that the country would survive. Public education and democratic government therefore go hand in hand. This class is not only offered, but required, in order to ensure that you become a knowledgable participant in the American governing system. Learning Objectives: What Do I Plan to Accomplish?
The purpose of GOVT 2301 is to become familiar the basic terminology of government and politics, the Constitutions of Texas and the United States, and the political institutions that help determine what policies are enacted into law. We begin with an simple overview of the terms "government" and "politics" and all the additional terms related to them. We then proceed to the evolution of the concept of natural rights and how it is embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Then we have a series of sections devoted to, first, an overview of the constitutions of the United States and Texas, and then the various principles embedded within it (republicanism, separated powers, federalism, individual liberty). This allows us to dig into the Federalist Papers and various pertinent sectiosn of the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. We then shift to a discussion of Civil Rights and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Being a democracy, elections are central to our political and governing process, as are political parties, which are the principal institutions that contest in elections and structure governing institutions once elected. We conclude with an overview of public opinion, the media, and interest groups. Together these three factors reflect our collective right to participate pollitically. Methods for Accomplishing Course Objectives
Below (under "Calendars") you will see a series of links which take you to pages I have put together on class subject matter You will be expected to read not only the material I have assembled for you, but additional material pulled from various sources on the World Wide Web. You'll a lot of links to additional course, but you aren't expected to know everything I link you to. The class is designed to introduce you to the large number of additional sources of infomration which exist online. Your understanding of the assigned material will be assessed in two ways. The first is based on your ability to answer short answer questions while the second will be based on answering multiple choice and other similar questions. The first is subjective and is meant to force you to think critically about the subject matter while the latter tests your factual understanding of the material. Readings: Although all of the readings in this class are available online in the pages you are linked to below, you may wish to use a traditional textbook. If so, the following two are available in the bookstore:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg and Kenneth Shepsle. American Government. 11th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton.
Brown, Lyle et al. Practicing Texas Politics. 13th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
You will notice that I also maintain a blog -- http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com -- where I post tems, usually on a daily basis, that pertain to the subject matter of the class. Everyday we will spend time discussing how current events illustrate the principles we cover in class. The blog features a large number of links to the various institutions we will come to understand in this class. In order to better communicate, I want you to go to the page and subscribe to it, you will notice a subscription widget on the right of the page. By subscribing, you will receive daily information regarding not only what we will cover in the class, but also various other notices such as whether class will be cancelled.
Your grade will be based on how well you perform in the following:
Short Answer Assignments (60% of your grade): Each of the sections listed below contain a handful of short answer questions. you will find the questions on the "assignment" link on Blackboard. Some can be answered directly from the material written out in the wiki pages presented to you, some require that you do a little research on your own. Answer the assigned questions in at least 150 words. I want you to answer directly in Blackboard. You may put your answer directly on the page or attach a word document. I grade based on length, breadth and comprehensiveness, as well as accuracy, so don't be skimpy. These are designed to get you to think critically about the subject matter. Due dates for the assignments can be found on Blackboard, as well as on the calendar below. I will accept late work, but will deduct 15 points from your grade.
Multiple Choice Tests (5 @ 5% each): There will be five online objective tests. These will be in a variety of formats including mutlipe choice, fill in the blank, and whatever else seems appropriate. As with the written assignments, these can be found on Blackboard. The dates for each test are found both below and on Blackboard.
Final (15%): On July 12th you will be given a comprehensive cumulative final which covers the various topics covered over the semester. Regarding Student Behavior: You are adults and will be expected to act accordingly. For onlines students this means that I expect you to do your own work. You will not ask anyone else to write papers for you, or you will not simply copy text from various sources and tell me you did it. Among the Founders, proper behavior was considered to be a necessary mark of a civilized person and a requirement for political participation. Read through Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior. It is a great example. Consider adopting a few.
Please Note: If you have any disabilities or other special needs that will affect your ability to learn in this class, please inform me. Appropriate steps will be taken to make reasonable accommodations and assistance with your needs. Scholastic Dishonesty: If you cheat in any way in this class and are caught, you will fail the course. Do not download items from the internet and pass them off as your own. If you do so, you will receive a zero for that paper or assignment and hat grade will be final. If you do it a second time, you risk failing the course, or receiving a sanction for you actions. Calendar:
Note: This is still under construction, but it will be finished by the first day of class
Government 2301
Kevin Jefferies
Office: D-225
Office Phone: 281-756-3736
email: kjefferies@alvincollege.edu.
class blog: http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com
GOVT 2301 - INA
Introduction: Why is This Course Offered?
We live in a democratic republic. In such a system the people are sovereign, meaning that ultimate political authority rests with the people. This isn't necessarily good news. Overall levels of knowledge about governmental are quite low. The founding generation recognized this and created a governing system that placed a significant number of barriers between the people and the law. This was to ensure that the "instability, injustice, and confusion" common in democracies would not lead the new country to an early demise. Nevertheless it was understood that participation would expand and an educated population would be required to ensure that the country would survive. Public education and democratic government therefore go hand in hand. This class is not only offered, but required, in order to ensure that you become a knowledgable participant in the American governing system.
Learning Objectives: What Do I Plan to Accomplish?
The purpose of GOVT 2301 is to become familiar the basic terminology of government and politics, the Constitutions of Texas and the United States, and the political institutions that help determine what policies are enacted into law. We begin with an simple overview of the terms "government" and "politics" and all the additional terms related to them. We then proceed to the evolution of the concept of natural rights and how it is embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Then we have a series of sections devoted to, first, an overview of the constitutions of the United States and Texas, and then the various principles embedded within it (republicanism, separated powers, federalism, individual liberty). This allows us to dig into the Federalist Papers and various pertinent sectiosn of the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. We then shift to a discussion of Civil Rights and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Being a democracy, elections are central to our political and governing process, as are political parties, which are the principal institutions that contest in elections and structure governing institutions once elected. We conclude with an overview of public opinion, the media, and interest groups. Together these three factors reflect our collective right to participate pollitically.
Methods for Accomplishing Course Objectives
Below (under "Calendars") you will see a series of links which take you to pages I have put together on class subject matter You will be expected to read not only the material I have assembled for you, but additional material pulled from various sources on the World Wide Web. You'll a lot of links to additional course, but you aren't expected to know everything I link you to. The class is designed to introduce you to the large number of additional sources of infomration which exist online. Your understanding of the assigned material will be assessed in two ways. The first is based on your ability to answer short answer questions while the second will be based on answering multiple choice and other similar questions. The first is subjective and is meant to force you to think critically about the subject matter while the latter tests your factual understanding of the material.
Readings: Although all of the readings in this class are available online in the pages you are linked to below, you may wish to use a traditional textbook. If so, the following two are available in the bookstore:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg and Kenneth Shepsle. American Government. 11th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton.
Brown, Lyle et al. Practicing Texas Politics. 13th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
You will notice that I also maintain a blog -- http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com -- where I post tems, usually on a daily basis, that pertain to the subject matter of the class. Everyday we will spend time discussing how current events illustrate the principles we cover in class. The blog features a large number of links to the various institutions we will come to understand in this class. In order to better communicate, I want you to go to the page and subscribe to it, you will notice a subscription widget on the right of the page. By subscribing, you will receive daily information regarding not only what we will cover in the class, but also various other notices such as whether class will be cancelled.
Here some online resources that should be useful:
- The Founders' Constitution
- U.S. Constitution: FindLaw.
- From Revolution to Reconstruction and Afterwards.
Grading: A = 89.5 - 100; B = 79.5 - 89.5; C = 69.5 - 79.5; D = 59.5 - 69.5; F 59.5 - 0
Your grade will be based on how well you perform in the following:
Short Answer Assignments (60% of your grade): Each of the sections listed below contain a handful of short answer questions. you will find the questions on the "assignment" link on Blackboard. Some can be answered directly from the material written out in the wiki pages presented to you, some require that you do a little research on your own. Answer the assigned questions in at least 150 words. I want you to answer directly in Blackboard. You may put your answer directly on the page or attach a word document. I grade based on length, breadth and comprehensiveness, as well as accuracy, so don't be skimpy. These are designed to get you to think critically about the subject matter. Due dates for the assignments can be found on Blackboard, as well as on the calendar below. I will accept late work, but will deduct 15 points from your grade.
Multiple Choice Tests (5 @ 5% each): There will be five online objective tests. These will be in a variety of formats including mutlipe choice, fill in the blank, and whatever else seems appropriate. As with the written assignments, these can be found on Blackboard. The dates for each test are found both below and on Blackboard.
Final (15%): On July 12th you will be given a comprehensive cumulative final which covers the various topics covered over the semester.
Regarding Student Behavior: You are adults and will be expected to act accordingly. For onlines students this means that I expect you to do your own work. You will not ask anyone else to write papers for you, or you will not simply copy text from various sources and tell me you did it. Among the Founders, proper behavior was considered to be a necessary mark of a civilized person and a requirement for political participation. Read through Washington's Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior. It is a great example. Consider adopting a few.
Please Note: If you have any disabilities or other special needs that will affect your ability to learn in this class, please inform me. Appropriate steps will be taken to make reasonable accommodations and assistance with your needs.
Scholastic Dishonesty: If you cheat in any way in this class and are caught, you will fail the course. Do not download items from the internet and pass them off as your own. If you do so, you will receive a zero for that paper or assignment and hat grade will be final. If you do it a second time, you risk failing the course, or receiving a sanction for you actions.
Calendar:
Week One (June 8 - 10)
- Introduction
- Natural Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
Short Answers Due June 13
Online Objective Test Due June 11
Week Two (June 14 - 17)
- The United States and Texas Constitutions.
- Federalist 10 and the Violence of Faction;
- Federalist 51 and the Separation of Powers.
Short Answers Due June 20
Online Objective Test Due June 18
Week Three (June 21 - 24)
- Federalism
- Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights.
- Civil Rights and The Equal Protection Clause.
Short Answers Due June 27
Online Objective Test Due June 25
Week Four (June 28 - July 1)
- Elections.
- Political Parties.
Short Answers Due July 5
Online Objective Test Due July 2
Week Five (July 5 - 8)
- The Freedom of Speech and Public Opinion.
- The Freedom of the Press and the Media. (note: you will not need to read this section to answer the written questions on blackboard)
- The Freedom to Peacefully Assemble and to Petition Government for a Redress of Grivances and Interests Groups. (note: you will not need to read this section to answer the written questions on blackboard)
Short Answers Due July 11
Online Objective Test Due July 9 (note: the objective test will only cover public opinion)
Cumulative Final: July 12
Let me know what questions you have and what suggestions you have to make this information clearer.